User Review: Linksys Simultaneous Dual-N Band Wireless Router Model #WRT610N

About a month ago, my old school Linksys G decided to go up in smoke. The router never gave me any issues, and then one fine day the whole house went disconnected.

There were tears, profanity, and anger spewing from the mouths of my family members. I mean hell, they were without their Internet, without their online gaming sessions, and without a connection they were lost. Even I was sadder that day.

I knew I needed to get the router up and running. Naturally I hit up the 800 number, and unfortunately Linksys refused to help me because my model number was out of warranty!!!! I had been given 2 options though, unless I paid for a. A 1 year over the phone assistance fee for some ridiculously high number, or b. I paid a one time $30.00 fee to have them help me over the phone just this one time.
 
Seeing that the goddamn thing only cost me $30.00, there was no way in hell I was going to pay some idiot $30.00 to help me. I mean every single time I called Linksys, I always got some idiot from India on the line, who's English was so chopped it did me no good.

It whole heartedly pissed me off because the last time I called, I ended up solving the issue on my own, because the service rep spoke too quickly, and his English sucked. He also got pissy on me, so I hung up.

After this incident, I refused to ever buy Linksys again. I mean hell, nearly every other company that sells a frigging router will give lifetime over the phone assistance. Not Linksys, oh no.

However after having bought the worst router I have ever used in my life, I returned it and fell victim to Linksys once again. I figured I'd rather deal with sucky service over the phone, than crap signals with a NETGEAR WPN824 RangeMax Wireless Router.
 
(That is an entirely separate review, to better put it, the thing sucked).
 
I didn't want to succumb to a Linksys again, but after seeing how horrible the Netgear was, I felt I was left with no other option.

I went with the Linksys Simultaneous Dual-N Band Wireless Router Model #WRT610N, even though the price was a hell of a lot higher than I was looking to spend. At Radioshack, I dumped down $89.99 for the router, and I hoped to God the thing gave a good signal.

After using the Netgear, I began to believe that built in antennas were horrible when it came to giving a strong signal. It turned out though that even though the Linksys wireless router had built in antennas, it gave off a hell of a good signal. Before discussing how well though, I first have to fill you in on all of the little specs.

The Linksys Simultaneous Dual-N Band Wireless Router is one of the sleekest models I saw available.

Our particular model is a high gloss all black router. I have also come across this model with a navy colored ring around it. I prefer the sleek black finish though because it matches my Samsung HDTV, PS3, eStarling Digital Frame, and Samsung LCD Monitor. (Yeah, I brag, so what?) At any rate, if you have the sleek all black look going on in your room, you will appreciate how well the Linksys Simultaneous Dual-N Band Wireless Router matches.

The router comes with an Ethernet cable, so you don't have to worry about having to run out and purchase one. The Ethernet wire is a light colored baby blue, which I still cannot understand. All black would have been preferred.

The back of it has an Ethernet port for the Internet connection to the PC, and 4 available slots for other peripherals. Seeing that close to everything is wireless these days, I cannot see why anyone would have to use all 4 of the slots. If needed though, they are there.

The router of course also comes with the AC adapter to plug it in, and power it on.

Set up was a breeze, and is a hell of a lot simpler to follow that the old G units were.

The included CD that comes with the router will guide you step by step. Everything is written and drawn out so you cannot really mess it up unless you try.

Once you have the router all set up, it will prompt you to make a security code. I use an open network for adding wireless devices easier. It is not recommended, but for when the router decides to have minor farts, I don't have to enter a frigging WEP key to everything we have hooked up to it. A simple search for available networks, and I'm done.
Signal Strength:
Now the huge issue we had with the Netgear was that upstairs we would get a lousy 10% signal strength. Seeing that the Netgear had built in antennas, we thought the Linksys would have the same issues, because it too had built in antennas.

Thankfully with the Linksys Simultaneous Dual-N Band Wireless Router Model #WRT610N we did not have this issue, as we had 100% signal strength through the entire house.

The router by the way is set up in the basement, and still strength is a crisp 100% signal.

Overall:
 
Completely recommended! Setting this router up was so simple, so quickly, and we have never had a dropped connection since setting it up. It is by far the most attractive, and best router we have ever had.
I however still think Linksys needs to work on their over the phone assistance, because NOT A SOUL speaks clear English, and they are very, very rude. I also think that they could expand the warranty for the life of the product, especially seeing that most routers are lucky to see their 2nd birthday. A 1 year over the phone assistance warranty is ridiculous, especially when those over the phone are of no assistance.

All in all though, I don't see us ever encountering any issues with this router.

For when you do encounter an issue though, I recommend you unplug it, and plug it back in. Usually this will fix any issues you may have with any router.